Pontiac Pavement Pounders Shootout SoCal Edition, Part IV

OWNER BIO: Michael R. Smith
Michael Smith's '81 Firebird is the only Pontiac in this shootout that doesn't have traditional Pontiac power, but it's not like he dropped a 502 Chevy in it and painted it Pontiac Blue. In the late '70s, Californians were required to use the 403 Oldsmobile engine instead of the 400 Pontiac because of its lower emissions. As a result, Michael decided to go the Oldsmobile route with his '81 Firebird and has been rewarded with a quick, reliable race car that gives most Pontiac fans a double-take when they look under the hood. "I purchased the $800 salvaged Firebird in order to race with my friend who ran his '89 T/A at Pontiac Drag Days," the 58-year-old Anaheim, California, resident says. "I ended up being a winner in class at the May 2003 Trophy Division for Pontiac Drag Days." Michael has also owned a '64 GTO and a '75 Catalina convertible. He adds, "I owned the GTO in Germany, and the only speed zones were inside posted city limits." Sounds like our kind of town!

Strip Specs
Year/Model:	'81 Firebird
Race Weight:	3,550 lbs
Curb Weight:	3,330 lbs
Engine:	'78 403 Oldsmobile V-8
Cubic Inches Before/After:	403 / 408
Compression Ratio:	10.01:1
Built By:	Pro Machine, Placentia, CA
Fuel:	91-octane Chevron
Carburetor:	Edelbrock 1407
Jets:	Primary, 0.113; Secondary, 0 .107
Spacer Plate:	None
Intake Manifold:	Edelbrock Performer RPM
Fuel System:	Mallory 4140 120-gph pump with Mallory regulator, 0.375-in lines
Heads:	Edelbrock aluminum
Head Porting:	Yes, some bowl work, 288-cfm intake, 217-cfm exhaust
Valves:	2.072/1.68-in stainless swirl-polished Edelbrock
Pistons:	Dick Miller/Arias forged flat-tops, 4.38-in bore (403 + 0.030)
Rings:	Speed-Pro R9798
Rods:	Stock Olds 403
Crankshaft:	Stock Olds 403, 3.38-in stroke
Rotating Assembly Balanced:	Yes
Camshaft:	Edelbrock hydraulic flat-tappet with 204/214-deg duration at 0.050, 0.448/0.472-in lift with 1.6:1 Harland Sharp roller rockers, 112-deg LSA, 107-deg. centerline
Camshaft Installed Position:	Straight Up
Ignition:	GM HEI with MSD 6AL
Total Timing:	32 deg at 2,200
Exhaust:	Hooker headers, 1.625-in primaries, 2.5-in collectors, 2.5-in H-pipe, Flowmaster Series 40 mufflers
Power Adder:	Edelbrock Plate nitrous-oxide system with 50/75/100-horse nozzles, 4AN nitrous line
Torque Converter:	B&M 12-in, 2,400-stall
Transmission:	Turbo 350 with B&M shift kit
Shifter:	B&M Quicksilver
Rearend/Final Drive:	GM 10-bolt with 3.42 gears and Eaton posi
Brakes Front:	Stock 10.9-in discs
Brakes Rear:	Stock 9.5-in drums
Wheels/Tires Front:	American Racing Outlaw 1 15x8-in / P225/70R-15 BFG Comp T/A radials
Wheels/Tires Rear:	American Racing Outlaw 1 15x8-in / P275/70-15 BFG Comp T/A drag radials
Tire Pressure Front/Rear:	28 psi / 18 psi
Suspension Front:	Stock GM with Summit adjustable shocks set at 80/20
Suspension Rear:	Stock GM with South Side Machine lift bars
Chassis Modifications:	Comp Eng subframe connectors
Interior Modifications:	Removed rear seat, headliner, dome light, radio, A/C and heater, replaced carpeting, door panels, added shift light tachometer
Exterior Modifications:	Fiberglass 4-in Outlaw cowl hood, attached with five pins
Safety Modifications:	Stock seatbelts, driveshaft safety loop
Custom Computer Programming:	None
Launch Technique:	1,800-rpm footbrake, stand on it between second and third amber light
Best ET/MPH Prior to Event (1/4 Mile):	12.31 at 108.64 mph
Best ET/MPH Prior to Event (1/8 Mile):	7.82 at 90.22

STRIP TUNING LOG
Run	Tuning	Launch RPM	Shift Point	60-FT	1/8-Mile ET/MPH	1/4 E.T./MPH	Corrected 1/4-Mile
1.	32 deg timing, No N2O, 18 psi in slicks	1,700	5,800	1.90	8.22/87.41	12.76/108.33	12.35/111.98
2.	Same	1,800	5,800	1.90	8.26/86.98	12.80/107.90	12.38/111.53
3.	Same, except 50-horse shot at 2,600 rpm	1,700	5,800	1.82	7.94/89.72	12.32/112.19	11.92/115.97
4.	Same	1,800	5,800	1.85	7.86/90.58	12.21/113.34	11.81/117.15
5.	Same	1,800	5,800	1.83	7.84/90.86	12.18/113.47	11.78/117.29
6.	Same as 1 and 2 (no N2O)	1,800	5,800	2.06	8.41/87.00	12.97/107.62	12.55/111.24
Run: 1) Top-end mph improved over day before; 2) Rpm launch control did not help; 3) 50-horse nitrous shot picks up 4-5 tenths; 4) Shorter burnout. Best e.t. and trap speed so far; 5) Even better than run no. 4! 6) Dry hop, no nitrous